Vacuum cleaning apparatus.



J. SCHIRRA.

VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.28, 191].

Patented.ll

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ATTORNEYS onirnn snares Parana onero s.

JULIUS SCI-IIRRA, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 HAND VACUUMSWEEPER COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A'CORLPORATION 0F PENN-SYLVANIA.

Original application filed May 10, 1911,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J LIUs SCHIRRA, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVacuum Cleaning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in vacuum cleaning apparatus, andhas particular relation to the manner of attachment of the suction headto the suction device.

The present application is a division of the application filed by me May10, 1911, Serial No. 626,274 (patented Nov. 7, 1911, #1008205).

The principal object of my invention is to provide a device of thischaracter in which the suction head is secured to th'forward end of thesuction device tire inlet opening for the material being positioned offcenter of the head,means being provided for removably securing thesuction head tothe head of the suction device with proper connectionsbetween the suction orifice and the inlet opening.

A further object is. to provide. means whereby the suction head will beoperatively connected to the suction device with the inlet into thelatter ofi center while the head is supported at a point axially of thesuction device.

Other and further objects of the invention are to provide a device ofthis character which is simple and efiicient in operation,

durable in construction, which may be readily attached to the handle ofa household utensil, and which can be manufactured at Specification ofLetters Patent.

VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS.

Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

Serial No. 626,274. Divided and this application filed August 28, 1911.Serial No. 646,340.

paratus, of which my invention forms a part. Fig. 2 is acentral'longitudinal sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 1, thesuction device being shown as broken away. Fig. 3 is a sectional viewillustrating a modified form of suction head connection employed whenthe structure is applied to a carpet sweeper.

The particular construction of the suction device, shown at the right inFigs. 1 and 2, is not herein specifically described, as it forms thesubject-matter of the claims of the application above identified, theonly portions thereof which pertain to the present invention being thehandle 10 and the plate 13 of. the end cap 12, said plate forming theforward end of the suction device and having the valved inlet anddischarge opening the latter communicating with the dust collector 21.

The handle 10 extends axially of the succeive the connection from thesuction head,

this inlet being arranged off center, the port being controlled by avalve 19 of suitable type and adapted to operate in accordance with therequirements of use.

The suction head shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is substantially non-flexible,being in the form of a tubular member 29 having its rear end adapted tobe passed over the projection 18. and having its forward end secured toor forming a part of the suction head 30, the

latter having a member 31 which is adapted to be passed over theprojecting end of the handle 10 and acting aS a continuation .of thehandle to support the suction head.

The structure of Fig. 3 is that employed by me in the constructiondisclosed in my companion application filed February 9, 1911, Serial No.607,456 (patented Nov. 14,

1911, #1008865), in which the device is shown as in operative relationto and as an attachment for carpet sweepers. In this view the bail ofthe sweeper is indicated at- 11. the sweeper body being indicated at 1,and being shown as supporting a suction head 2 in ad 'ance of thesweeper body. the suction head being connected to projection 18 by aflexible connection 28. said com1ecticn beingremovably secured to theprojection. The ccnnecticn between the sweeper and the lower end ofhandle 10 is a removable one. so that by disengaging both bail andconnectionQS from the suction creating mechanism. the nozzle shown inFig. 2 can be readily substituted.

The particular structure of parts is such I that either type may be usedin connection with the plate 13 and handle 10. \Vhen the device of Fig.3 is employed. the forward end of the handle is threaded into the bailof the sweeper or secured in a socket carried by such bail. and theconnection between the head and the inlet port is mounted on theprojection 18. the suction head itself being carried by the sweeper. Inthe construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2. the head and support arenon-flexible and are also connected to the same two parts of the plate.viz.. the handle and the projection 18. In either form the constructionis such that the handle through the extension thereof provided by themember 31 or the bail of the sweeper. in effect extends substantially tothe suction head so that the handle acts to provide the necessarymovements to the head. relieving the conduit connection between the headand the suction device from the pressures produced by such movements.thereby permitting of the use of flexible or non-flexible conduitconnections between the suction head or nozzle and the suction device atwill according to the character of the support employed for the head ornozzle. the conduit connections being relieved from the pressureprovided in moving the apparatus about in operation, such pressuresbeing generally central and in a direct line and applied from the handleto the head or nozzle through the supporting connection therebetween,such latter connection being sufficiently rigid to provide for thisapplication of the pressures.

As will be seen, the arrangement herein disclosed provides substantiallytwo general elements, one being the carpet sweeper for providing asweeping action. the other being means for creating and applying suctioncleaning action. the latter including the two types of suction head andconnections. \Vhen the parts are connected as shown in Fig. 3, thesuction-creating mechanism acts to provide the to and fro movements tothe sweeper, it being understood that the handle 10 forms a portion ofsuch mechanism, in

which case the combined or separate movements of the sweeper andsuction-cleaner may be had as set forth in my said prior Patent No.1.008.865. ()wing to the fact. however. that the suction-creatingmechanism is removed from the sweeper as a unit. and the connection 28detachable from the suction-creating mechanism. it will be obvious thatthe employment of the nozzle structure of Fig. l. will enablesuctioncleaning action to take place separate from the sweeper. thusenabling cleaning action to take place at points inaccessible to thesweeper itself. as for instance. on stairways. etc. This result is dueto the ability to separate the sweeper and suction-creating mechanismand the detachability of the suction head or nozzle from thesuction-creating mechanism.

'hile I have herein disclosed several ways in which my invention may becarried into effect. I am aware that changes and modifications thereinmay be necessary to meet the various exigencies of use. and I reservethe right to make any and all such changes and modifications as may befound necessary in-sofar as they may fall within the spirit and scopeof. the invention as hereinafter pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new is 1. Incombination. suction-creating mechanism. a carpet sweeper. and a suctionnozzle. said nozzle being positioned in advance of the sweeper bod andhaving a removable connection with said mechanism. said mechanism andsweeper being detachably connected together. whereby said parts maytravel as an entirety in the to and fro movements of the sweeper. saidmechanism extending above the sweeper and being detachable bodily fromthe nozzle and sweeper.

2. In combination. a carpet sweeper. a suction-creating mechanismdetachabl y connected to and movable with the sweeper body during the toand fro movements thereof, and a suction nozzle in advance of thesweeper body. said mechanism having means above the plane of the top ofthe.

sweeper body for detachably connecting the nozzle thereto.

3. In combination. a carpet sweeper, suction-creating mechanismremovably connected to and positionable to extend over the sweeper, saidmechanism having means whereby a dust-inlet nozzle may be removablyconnected thereto to complete a suctioncleaning device.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JULIUS SCI-IIRRA.

' Witnesses I'IENRY J. THoMA, MAX H. SnoLovITz.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G."

